Indian swimmer Srihari Nataraj breaches Olympic A lower, awaits FINA’s affirmation

A day after Sajan Prakash sealed the ‘A’ lower for Tokyo Olympics in males’s 200m butterfly, ace Indian swimmer Srihari Nataraj breached the A typical time for the upcoming Games. Nataraj clocked 53.77s within the males’s 100m backstroke on the Sette Colli Trophy on Sunday.

However, his participation within the Olympics will likely be confirmed provided that FINA approves the timing.Nataraj had come agonisingly near breaching the A typical in the identical occasion a few days again however missed it by 0.05 second after an effort of 53.90 seconds.Nataraj’s effort on Sunday, which got here in a time trial, has created a brand new nationwide file. It is sufficient to obtain the ”A” mark for the Tokyo Games set at 53.85s.Sajan Prakash and Srihari Nataraj have booked their #TicketToTokyo! This marks the primary time two Indian swimmers have earned automated qualification for the #Olympics. Get in! #BetterEveryday #OlympicSwimming pic.twitter.com/eVVfDpT5YR— JSW Sports (@jswsports) June 27, 2021
In time trials, swimmers don’t compete in opposition to different rivals however they get an opportunity to higher their timing. The Bengaluru swimmer was allowed a time trial by the organisers on the final day for Olympic qualification.”Srihari Nataraj swam a 53.77 seconds in the time trial for 100m backstroke achieving the A qualification time for Tokyo 2020. His time achieved in the time trial shall be sent to FINA by the host federation along with the regular meet results,” the Swimming Federation of India (SFI) mentioned in a press release.However, the time must be formally authorised by FINA, the world physique of aquatics.”It will be for FINA to accept the result from the time trial at an approved qualification event; it is done routinely at many accredited meets; as in the recent case of the US Olympics team trials for the 400m freestyle event.”SFI Secretary hopes FINA considers Nataraj timing”We are very excited with the A cuts achieved by both our swimmers and hope this result will be considered by FINA for Srihari to join Sajan Prakash as a direct qualification (A cut) entry for Tokyo 2020,” SFI Secretary General Monal Chokshi mentioned.If Nataraj’s time is confirmed, the Tokyo Olympics will mark the primary time two Indian swimmers will participate within the Summer Games after reaching a direct qualification.Sajan Prakash, who created historical past by turning into the first-ever Indian swimmer to breach the Olympic A typical within the males’s 200m butterfly on Saturday, continued his purple patch by clocking 1:49.73 seconds within the 200m males’s freestyle occasion.The 27- year-old bettered 2010 Asian Games bronze medallist Virdhawal Khade’s earlier mark of 1:49.86 seconds.While will probably be Nataraj’s maiden Olympics, the Tokyo Games will likely be Prakash”s, who set a brand new nationwide file within the 200m freestyle occasion, second stint on the quadrennial sporting extravaganza, having represented India in Rio in 2016. (With PTI Inputs).